}}{{tnr}}'''Vito Lopez''' (b. June 5, 1941) is a former [[Democratic]] member of the [[New York State Assembly]], representing District 53 from 1985 to 2013. Lopez resigned on May 20, 2013 amid a [[Vito Lopez#Sexual harassment allegations and resignation|sex scandal]] that saw him previously cede his chairmanship of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.<ref name=wsj>[http://online.wsj.com/article/APcf942af7bfc94e55b7d7de745982994b.html ''Associated Press'', "NY Assemblyman accused of sex harass resigns," May 18, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013]</ref>

Lopez's professional experiences include instructor at Yeshiva University, Molloy College, and Empire State College; and part-time adjunct professor of Human Services at LaGuardia College.

Lopez's professional experiences include instructor at Yeshiva University, Molloy College, and Empire State College; and part-time adjunct professor of Human Services at LaGuardia College.

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Lopez earned a BS in business administration from Long Island University, Brooklyn and MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=4346 Project Vote Smart - Rep. Lopez]</ref>

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Lopez earned a B.S. in business administration from Long Island University, Brooklyn and MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University.<ref>[http://votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=4346 Project Vote Smart - Rep. Lopez]</ref>

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==Committee assignments==

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===2013-2014===

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At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Lopez served on the following committees:

Lopez ran in the [[State legislative elections, 2012|2012 election]] for [[New York State Assembly elections, 2012|New York State Assembly]] District 53. He ran unopposed in the Democratic primary on September 13, 2012. He defeated [[Richy Garcia]] in the general election which took place on November 6, 2012.<ref>[http://www.elections.ny.gov:8080/reports/rwservlet?cmdkey=whofiled ''State of New York, State Board of Elections'', Candidate Petition List, retrieved August 15, 2012]</ref><ref>[http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/elections/local/results?g=nyAssembly&state=NY ''ABC News,'' "New York unofficial 2012 primary election results," accessed September 13, 2012]</ref>

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An October 2012 article in ''The Daily'' named Lopez one of the 20 worst candidates in 2012.<ref>[http://www.thedaily.com/article/2012/10/29/102912-news-worst-candidates-2012/ ''The Daily,'' "The worst candidates of 2012," October 29, 2012]</ref>

Lopez ran unopposed in the September 14 Democratic primary. He faced [[Byron Orozco]] (R) in the general election on November 2.

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Lopez ran unopposed in the September 14 Democratic primary. He defeated [[Byron Orozco]] (R) in the general election on November 2.<ref>[http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/results/new-york/state-legislature ''New York Times,'' "NY state legislative election results," accessed February 11, 2014]</ref>

In 2010, Lopez received $444,064 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.<ref>[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/grid.phtml?s=NY&y=2010&#fC ''Follow the Money'', "2010 contributions," accessed December 23, 2013]</ref>

Following an internal ethics committee investigation, the [[New York State Assembly]] censured Lopez on August 24, 2012, when allegations of sexual harassment brought by two female employees were substantiated. Soon after, it was reported that the Assembly made a secret payment of $103,080 on June 13 in order to settle previous allegations made by two other women, which never went to the ethics committee.<ref name="harass"/>

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* [[Rules Committee, New York Assembly]]

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* [[Social Services Committee, New York Assembly]]

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[[Speaker of the House]] [[Sheldon Silver]] (D) approved the settlement, but once it came to light said it was the wrong decision. “I take full responsibility in not insisting that all cases go to the ethics committee. While that opinion is both legally correct and ethical and can result in a resolution sought by complaining employees, I now believe it was the wrong one from the perspective of transparency,” he stated.<ref name="harass">[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/nyregion/lopez-to-yield-party-leadership-role.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp&adxnnlx=1346215202-ng0Dc%20ukIlxPn06zFpmEhw ''New York Times,'' "Assembly Leader Admits Fault as Critics Assail Secret Payoff," August 28, 2012]</ref>

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A number of officials and individuals, including Gov. [[Andrew Cuomo]] (D), called for a full investigation. Lopez, meanwhile, insisted that he did nothing wrong and would not resign his seat, but did give up his position as chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2012/08/vito-lopez-gives-up-on-staying-brooklyn-democratic-party-chairman ''New York Daily News,'' "Vito Lopez Gives Up On Staying Brooklyn Democratic Party Chairman," August 28, 2012]</ref>

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Following state and prosecutorial reports alleging that Lopez harassed four female staffers in physical and non-physical manners, Lopez initially announced that he would resign his Assembly seat on June 20, 2013, the end date of that year's legislative session. However, facing threats of expulsion, he announced on May 18, 2013 that he would resign effective May 20, 2013 at 9 a.m.<ref name=wsj/> At the time of his resignation, Lopez kept his remaining position as Democratic district leader, which prompted party leaders to unanimously pass a resolution calling for him to resign that post as well. He also began a run for New York City Council.<ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/dems-press-vito-lopez-quit-post-article-1.1352234 ''New York Daily News'', "State Democrats want scandal-scarred Vito Lopez to resign district leader post, too," May 22, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013]</ref><ref>[http://www.nydailynews.com/news/election/vito-lopez-show-district-article-1.1350941 ''New York Daily News,'' "Vito Lopez a no-show on the first day of his improbable race for Council," May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013]</ref>

Vito Lopez (b. June 5, 1941) is a former Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 53 from 1985 to 2013. Lopez resigned on May 20, 2013 amid a sex scandal that saw him previously cede his chairmanship of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.[1]

Lopez's professional experiences include instructor at Yeshiva University, Molloy College, and Empire State College; and part-time adjunct professor of Human Services at LaGuardia College.

Lopez earned a B.S. in business administration from Long Island University, Brooklyn and MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University.[2]

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Lopez served on the following committees:

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Lopez is available dating back to 1998. Based on available campaign finance records, Lopez raised a total of $2,264,614 during that time period. This information was last updated on December 21, 2013.[9]

2010

In 2010, Lopez received $444,064 in campaign donations. The top contributors are listed below.[10]

New York State Assembly 2010 election - Campaign Contributions

Top contributors to Vito Lopez's campaign in 2010

Friends Of Carl Kruger

$5,100

Bailey, Paulette

$5,000

New York State Supreme Court Officers Association

$4,000

All New York Title Agency

$4,000

Gigante, Louis R

$3,800

Total Raised in 2010

$444,064

2008

In 2008, a year in which Lopez was up for re-election, he collected $452,552 in donations.[11]

The major contributors were:

Donor

Amount

New York State Association for Affordable Housing

$5,345

Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker

$4,000

11 individual donations each of:

$3,800

Controversies

Sexual harassment allegations and resignation

Following an internal ethics committee investigation, the New York State Assembly censured Lopez on August 24, 2012, when allegations of sexual harassment brought by two female employees were substantiated. Soon after, it was reported that the Assembly made a secret payment of $103,080 on June 13 in order to settle previous allegations made by two other women, which never went to the ethics committee.[12]

Speaker of the HouseSheldon Silver (D) approved the settlement, but once it came to light said it was the wrong decision. “I take full responsibility in not insisting that all cases go to the ethics committee. While that opinion is both legally correct and ethical and can result in a resolution sought by complaining employees, I now believe it was the wrong one from the perspective of transparency,” he stated.[12]

A number of officials and individuals, including Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), called for a full investigation. Lopez, meanwhile, insisted that he did nothing wrong and would not resign his seat, but did give up his position as chair of the Brooklyn Democratic Party.[13]

Following state and prosecutorial reports alleging that Lopez harassed four female staffers in physical and non-physical manners, Lopez initially announced that he would resign his Assembly seat on June 20, 2013, the end date of that year's legislative session. However, facing threats of expulsion, he announced on May 18, 2013 that he would resign effective May 20, 2013 at 9 a.m.[1] At the time of his resignation, Lopez kept his remaining position as Democratic district leader, which prompted party leaders to unanimously pass a resolution calling for him to resign that post as well. He also began a run for New York City Council.[14][15]